Oxidative stress is one of the major mechanisms implicated in
inorganic arsenic poisoning. Punica granatum is known by its
free radical scavenging properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of combined
selenium and P. granatum against
arsenic-induced liver injury. Seventy-five female albino rats were divided into five groups (of 15 rats each). Toxicity was induced by oral
sodium arsenite (5.5 mg/kg
body weight (bw) daily) (group ІІ). Treatment of
arsenic-intoxicated rats was induced by daily
oral administration of
sodium selenite (3 mg/kg bw) (group ІІІ), 100 mg of P. granatum
ethanol extract per kilogram
body weight dissolved in 300 mL distilled water in three divided doses (100 mL of this
suspension every 8 h) (group IV), and combined daily oral treatment with both
selenite and P. granatum
ethanol extract (group V). After 3 weeks, serum and liver tissues were obtained from the decapitated rats for different estimations. Hepatotoxicity was demonstrated by significant elevation in liver weights and activities of liver
enzymes,
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and
aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and decrease in serum total
proteins and
albumin (p < 0.05) which were confirmed by histopathological examination. Additionally,
arsenic hepatotoxicity led to an increased values of
malondialdehyde,
advanced oxidation protein products,
nitric oxide, and
interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p < 0.05) and decreased activity of
thioredoxin reductase, values of total
anti-oxidant capacity, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene expression. Significant improvement in all assessed parameters was observed in rat group treated with both P. granatum and
selenium. It was concluded that combined P. granatum and
selenium treatment had a synergistic hepatoprotective effect against
arsenic toxicity through activation of Nrf2
anti-oxidant pathway.